By TIM TAYLORValley Sports Report
MARATHON — Tioga held Marathon at bay for more than 23 minutes, but struggled offensively as the Olympians registered a 3-0 victory in the opening round of the Section IV Class C Girls Soccer Championships here Tuesday afternoon.
Marathon kept the ball in the Tioga end of the pitch the majority of the match, preventing the Tigers from generating any offense.
The Olympians were unable to convert corner kicks in the third, fourth and seventh minutes of play. Moniz also denied Marathon a prime scoring opportunity in the 14th minute when she deflected a shot near the right post.
Marathon took 10 shots in the first half, but only one, a shot by Addie Howe at 16:48, found the back of the net past a diving Moniz.
The score would remain 1-0 throughout the remainder of the half, but the Olympians would find their target twice in the first eight minutes of the second half.
Paityn Contri made it 2-0 with a shot high into the back of the net with 37:27 on the clock. A little over five minutes later, at 32:18, Macie Quail knocked a header into the goal to give the host a 3-0 advantage.
“Unfortunately, when you face that much continued pressure, the dam's going to break eventually, and it did,” said Tioga coach Jim Walsh. “My goodness … 20 shots to four shots.
“Then on the other hand, we didn't generate any offense. We play that much defense and it's just hard. Talking four shots, one shot in the first half.”
The Tigers did play some impressive defense for most of the first half as goalkeeper Marcy Moniz and her teammates were stingy on defense from the onset.
Moniz was injured on the third goal and was replaced by Kaylah Nelson, who was able to shut Marathon down the rest of the way.
“She's our top defender,” Walsh said. “She usually plays a sweeper position. She is a defensive player. She's very athletic too. She's goalie next year, but wherever you put her, the defense is that much better. Very good, very good, very athletic. Great hands, everything.
“One thing with our goalie (Moniz), I didn't realize she went home early yesterday. She was really sick,” Walsh said. “I don’t like making excuses, but our goalie is really feeling awful today, which I can't tell in warm-ups.”
The Olympians took 23 shots to the Tigers’ four, three of which came late in the second half. Marathon also held a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Marathon knew its best opportunity to record a victory would be best served by limiting Grace Howey’s scoring opportunities and taking away any chance she might have to set up teammates to score.
“They were swarming when she had the ball,” said Walsh. “She was playing a little bit more defensive, a defensive midfielder, just to try to help prevent them from scoring because they were handling and possessing the ball so well in our end, which means she's not offensive. A lot of teams have been doing that to her of late, Odessa, and just swarming her when she has the ball.”
Moniz and Nelson recorded seven saves apiece in goal while Clara Parker made one for Marathon.
Marathon (11-3-1), the sixth seed, visits third-seeded rival Southern Cayuga (13-2), the IAC Small School champion, on Friday.
Tioga finishes its season at 8-8.
“It was a disappointing finish,” said Walsh. “I was hoping we could pull this one off and end up guaranteed a winning season.
“At this point, I think the Odessa game, Odessa loss, kind of that close loss, which was this key game, kind of took the wind out of our sails a little bit. I think at that point, you kind of see the end of the season, and I don't think the fire was always there for this game. We won a lot of easier games later in the season, or in the middle of the season. We won some close games. You’ve got to be able to beat the better teams, at least compete.”
Next year does show some promise,
“A lot of youngsters, four seniors,” Wash said. “We lose our goalie next year, but Grace and Natalie (Kemp) coming back, I think we've got a lot of potential next year. Grace and Natalie are juniors, and as you saw, Kaylah Nelson in goal there.
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IN PHOTO 1: Callie Rapp. IN TOP PHOTO: Carolina Rapp (with ball) and Emily Moniz. … PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.
